Types of Termites in North Alabama
If you are a homeowner, you understand the worries of having a termite infestation in your home. For homeowners in the state of Alabama, there are certain kinds of termites you should be on the lookout for. Let’s discuss the different types of termites most commonly found in Alabama, and how you can keep them away from your home.
Formosan Subterranean Termites
In the 1980s, this kind of termite was found in Alabama, and since then they have continued to cost homeowners hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage throughout the country. This type of termite is dangerous because they can build a colony of up to 15 million. That’s a lot of termites that can cause even more costly damage to your property.
Although their colonies are large, these termites are hard to recognize because they only swarm at night and can submerge themselves in up to 300 feet deep in soil, which can be harder for a homeowner to notice. These termites are attracted to decaying wood such as railroad cross ties, firewood and your home’s foundation. The queen tends to reproduce and lay her eggs during the spring, so be sure to rid your home of these termites during fall or winter.
Eastern Subterranean Termites
This type of termite is the most common and easiest to spot, because of their large size. Eastern Subterranean Termites do take quite a while to cause large amounts of damage, however, they should still be considered very dangerous to your home or business.
These termites tend to reproduce in February when the weather begins to warm up. They tend to swarm during the day, which may make them easier to spot.
Southeastern Subterranean Termites
This type of termite is the smallest and least commonly found in Alabama. However, don’t underestimate their ability to cause serious structural damage to your residential or commercial property. If multiple swarms are in the same area, colonies can form to include millions. These termites tend to begin to swarm and reproduce during the early summer months.
How You Can Prevent Termites
The first step in preventing and eliminating termites is removing their source of food. They are attracted to areas with high moisture levels, so be sure to fix any drainage problems, install or clean out gutters, keep bushes and shrubs trimmed, install a moisture barrier and keep your crawl space nicely ventilated.
Be sure to get an inspection quickly if you see any swarms near your home or business. Termites work fast and your property damage can add up even faster.
Maintaining a termite prevention plan is the best way to keep your home protected from any kind of termites. At Scout Pest Control, we use a termite baiting system to eliminate termites before they reach your home. In addition, we also perform conventional liquid termite treatments.
Don’t let these pests cause you stress and worry, just give Scout Pest Control a call at (256) 216-1088 or visit our website to learn more about the services we offer. We service the greater Huntsville area including Madison and Limestone counties.
